Local media have many advantages that have not been optimally exploited so far, as they are characterized by an influential and directive ability that makes them have a strong influence in the vicinity of the local community due to the possibility of high interaction with these means, and then the recipient can interact with many of these means easily, as well as communication with These media are affordable and available as many local media are easily accessible because of their proximity to the local citizen.
In the context of betting on the importance of local media, and believing in the importance of these media, Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights held during the period from 3-4 November 2010 the first training workshop for local media in which (25) journalists, preparers and TV program presenters participated in the media in my governorate 6 October and Cairo, in coordination with the Muwatin Association for Development and Human Rights.
The training workshop comes within the framework of the activities of the Citizen's Voice (2) project implemented by the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights with funding from the Future Foundation, which seeks to build the capacities of different community parties in dealing with decentralization and develop effective and innovative mechanisms to monitor citizens' needs and evaluate the quality of public services provided by Before the executive authorities, the project also seeks to spread the culture of decentralization in the Egyptian society and the effective employment of local and mass media in support of decentralization and monitoring the needs of citizens.
The training workshop aimed at raising the awareness of local media professionals in the regions targeted for decentralization and enabling them to have good media coverage of violations of the rights of local citizens in light of decentralization. The workshop included several topics and training components to reach these goals.
The workshop was attended by Professor Sameh Fawzi, Journalist and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Citizens for Development Foundation, Professor Magdy Helmy, Advisor to the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Wafd Newspaper and the training expert, and Professor Heba El-Sharkawy, a journalist and TV programmer.
On its first day, the workshop included training sessions on the concept of decentralization, its types and the extent of its prominence in the Egyptian legislative framework, and discussions were held about the amendments to be made to the Local Administration Law (43) of 1979 to become more supportive of decentralization and more in line with Article 161 of the Egyptian Constitution.
The second day of the workshop also included training sessions on the importance of local media for society, the advantages that local media have vis-à-vis other media outlets, and the types of local media and its means. The training also included topics related to investigative journalism, its concept, objectives, importance and principles, and how to rely on The human element as one of the evidence that can be used to prepare a good investigative report or news. Participants also received training on media coverage of citizens 'rights violations, planning a good media campaign, and how to use public opinion polls to cover violations of citizens' rights.
It is expected that Maat Foundation will hold three other training workshops for local media personnel during the month of November, one of them in Sharkia Governorate, the second in Qena and Luxor governorates, and the third in Helwan Governorate.